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MEME: Meaning-Making in Early Mathematics Education

MEME 2019 is four days of intensive, exciting early math exploration. This hands-on professional development opportunity will delve deeply into practical ways you can improve early math instruction and will help make early math learning meaningful for both you and young children.

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Description

Overview

Our Early Math Collaborative’s annual summer institute, MEME2: Meaning-making in Early Mathematics, is open to teachers (preschool through kindergarten), school administrators, teacher assistants, classroom coaches, and teacher educators.

MEME 2019 is called MEME2 because for the first time we are offering new content with a new focus. Because of this, the event is perfect for both new participants and those who have attended a past MEME.

It is four days of intensive, exciting early math exploration with a focus on counting/cardinality, spatial thinking, and shape. Led by instructors from Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative, authors of Big Ideas in Early Mathematics: What Teachers of Young Children Need to Know, the event will be both challenging and fun. This hands-on professional development opportunity will delve deeply into practical ways you can improve early math instruction and will help make early math learning meaningful for both you and young children.

During the event, you will collaborate with colleagues and enjoy stimulating plenary sessions focused on developing a deep understanding of the Big Ideas — those central, coherent, generative, and developmentally appropriate concepts that are the foundation of all mathematics. You will work with other engaged adults in the beautiful Erikson Institute learning environment, and enjoy the wonderful food, shopping, and entertainment options Chicago has to offer.

Included as part of the institute are an opening reception the evening of Tuesday, July 9, and a fun group excursion in Chicago the evening of Wednesday, July 10. Breakfast and snacks will be served daily.

Each morning, participants will take part in a shared learning experience around the math of Counting/Cardinality, Spatial Thinking, and Shape before participating in two series of your choice in the afternoon.

Learning Series (Choose 2 of 5)

Working with Adult Learners

Explore and prepare to lead teacher learning experiences that use a whole teacher approach, which parallels the whole child approach so important to early childhood. We will look at the importance of improving teachers’ positive attitudes and beliefs about math along with their conceptual understanding of both foundational mathematics and the developmental trajectory of children’s mathematical thinking. Gain highly effective strategies for facilitating adult learning.

Building Big Ideas Through Block Play

Experience the power of using blocks to help children engage in thinking about Counting/Cardinality, Spatial Thinking, and Shape. Over three days, you will learn about the stages that children go through as they engage in block building and how best to support block play. Learn what rigorous play looks like.

Classroom Connections

Apply the Big Ideas to classroom contexts where math can thrive: daily routines, games, and books. You will look at common practices through a mathematical lens and explore how to maximize the math learning around the classroom. Gain new ideas and ways to enhance what you are already doing.

Discovering the Power of Analyzing Children’s Work

Experience one way that formative assessment can guide your instructional choices and deepen your understanding of foundational mathematics. Over three days, we will introduce a process for ongoing collaboration that helps teachers choose rich activities, anticipate children’s responses, and analyze their work. This process promotes a greater understanding of a particular group of children plus a deepened sense of the general learning trajectory for early math concepts.

The T and M in STEM

Investigate integrating technology and math in your classroom to support children’s development of spatial reasoning and logical thinking. Join Early Math Collaborative and TEC Center experts to design play-based experiences that support problem solving with, and without, technology tools. Take home a deeper understanding plus lesson ideas!

Wednesday Group Outing

Experience the “top tour in Chicago and one of the top ten tours in the U.S.” according to TripAdvisor users. The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise is a must for out-of-towners and Chicagoans alike. CAF-certified volunteer tour guides—called docents—interpret more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. You’ll find out how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. In 90 minutes, get the real story on Chicago architecture and its history. The best part? This cruise is only $12 for each of our guests!

FAQ

Who should attend?

MEME: Meaning-making in Early Mathematics is open to teachers (preschool through kindergarten), school administrators, teacher assistants, classroom coaches, and teacher educators.

What does it cost?

The four-day Summer Institute will have an early bird registration of $850 before March 15, 2019 and regular registration of $925 after that. Registration will close on June 26, 2019 or when we hit full enrollment.

What does the cost include?

The fee includes all workshops and plenary sessions, breakfast each day, supplemental materials, and access to special online videos and materials after the event. Attendees will also receive a copy of Big Ideas in Early Mathematics: What Teachers of Young Children Need to Know and accompanying DVD as well as a packet of materials based on the content that is explored.

What do I need to bring?

Participants should bring:

Materials with which to take notes

Laptop and/or tablet (optional)

How do I get there and what hotel should I stay at?

All sessions will take place at Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL. You can visit the Location page of Erikson's website to get information about Hotel, Parking, and Directions. There are many hotels within blocks of Erikson Institute.

What will the schedule be?

A detailed schedule will be emailed to participants prior to the event. Generally sessions begin at 8:30AM and end at 4:00PM, with scheduled breaks and an extended lunch break each day. On the last day sessions end at 1:00PM.

Do you have group rates for registration?

Yes. If you would like to register more than three people to attend the event, please contact Cody Meirick at [email protected].

Do you offer professional development credit for time spent at the Summer Institute?

We will provide a certificate of completion that states total contact hours. State requirements vary, so please feel free to contact us if you have further questions: [email protected].

Is there a cancellation policy?

Yes. Refund requests must be made in writing to [email protected] on or before June 1, 2019. A $50 cancellation fee per individual will be deducted from any refund request received on or before June 1, 2019. After that date, there will be no refunds of registration fees but transfer of registration to a colleague can be arranged before June 26, 2019.